The Starfleet Merchant & Supply Service (abbrev: MSS) is a Civilian Auxiliary unit of the Starfleet Reserves. The MSS is comprised primarily of civilian mariners manning fleets of government-owned merchant vessels. These fleets are managed by the government and engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the territory of the Galaxy Alliance. During peacetime, the MSS is responsible for transporting cargo and passengers or conducting trade operations. In times of war, its status as a reserve component requires activation, and they are called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for Starfleet. Commissioned Officers within the MSS hold status as reserve officers of Starfleet.

The MSS is headquartered on Starbase 703 and functionally reports to the Starfleet Reserves during peacetime, and transferred en masse to Starfleet Logistics during any period of reserve activation (usually times of war). The head of the MSS is the Chief of the Starfleet Merchant & Supply Service, who reports to the Chief of the Starfleet Reserves (peace) or otherwise to the Chief of Starfleet Logistics.

Mandate

Organization

Assets

History

Personnel

Command

Ranks

Commissioned Officers

As within Starfleet, commissioned officers within the MSS follow the same regulations as their active-duty counterparts. However, MSS officers are trained in trade and spacelift operations above and beyond the skills possessed by Exploration Command or Border Patrol officers. Officers in command of MSS assets are likely to hold down 'master mariner' roles aboard civilian vessels, while those in the Services division are those trained in cargo, trade, and propulsion specialties specific to transports, freighters, and other support vessels that make up the MSS mobile organization. Officers commissioned into the MSS without attending military leadership training carry a Restricted Line Officer (RLO) designation, as MSS is a specialized unit and falls under the expanded definition for RLO leadership scenarios.

Unlike other reserve components, the MSS does not have its own medial division, instead accepting personnel assigned by Starfleet Medical. These doctors, nurses, and corpsmen assigned to MSS billets may wear the MSS uniform, but they maintain their regular Starfleet rank insignia.

Warrant Officer Ranks

The MSS is one of two suborganizations that designate officers holding a Chancellor's Warrant. There are five paygrades of Warrant Officer designated within the MSS, and in terms of rank and seniority within Starfleet, all warrants hold the same seniority and authority as a Master Chief Petty Officer when MSS personnel of these ranks are assigned to regular Starfleet billets.

Paygrade

Command Graphic

Service Graphic

Science Graphic

Rank

Abbr.

Rank Pips

W-5

Master Chief Warrant Officer

MCWO

Three solid gold Lines, and Hollow (black) bar.

W-4

Senior Chief Warrant Officer

SCWO

Two solid gold Lines, and Hollow (black) bar.

W-3

Chief Warrant Officer

CWO

One solid gold Line, and Hollow (black) bar.

W-2

Warrant Officer

WO

One solid gold Line, and Hollow (black) bar.

W-1

Warrant Officer (jg)

WOJG

Hollow (black) bar.

Enlisted Ranks

Paygrade

Command Graphic

Service Graphic

Science Graphic

Rank

Abbr.

Rank Pips

E-9

Master Chief Petty Officer

MCPO

Three solid gold Lines, and Hollow (Gold) buckle.

E-8

Senior Chief Petty Officer

SCPO

Two solid gold Lines, and Hollow (Gold) buckle.

E-7

Chief Petty Officer

CPO

One solid gold Line, and Hollow (Gold) buckle.

E-6

Petty Officer 1st Class

PO1

Three solid gold Lines, and Hollow (Silver) buckle.

E-5

Petty Officer 2nd Class

PO2

Two solid gold Lines, and Hollow (Silver) buckle.

E-4

Petty Officer 3rd Class

PO3

One solid gold line, and hollow (Silver) buckle.

E-3

Crewman

CRMN

Three solid gold lines, and hollow (black) buckle.

E-2

Crewman Apprentice

CAPP

Two solid gold lines, and hollow (black) buckle.

E-1

Crewman Recruit

CRC

One solid gold line, and hollow (black) buckle.

Training Ranks

Paygrade

Command Graphic

Service Graphic

Science Graphic

Rank

Abbr.

Rank Pips

N/A

Officer-Candidate

OC

One hollow gold bar

N/A

Midshipman First Class

MID1

Four silver pips

N/A

Midshipman Second Class

MID2

Three silver pips

N/A

Midshipman Third Class

MID3

Two silver pips

N/A

Midshipman Fourth Class

MID4

One silver pip

Ship-Based Positions

The commanding officer of a vessel within the Merchant & Supply Service is the absolute authority aboard ship. Regardless of rank, all commanding officers are referred to as 'Captain', although sometimes and more often, the term 'Skipper' is applied.

Held over from the days of ocean-faring navies, the first officer (or first mate) is the commanding officer's alter ego. Aboard an MSS vessel, the first mate doubles as the operations officer, to which all other officers or department heads must answer to. Where the commanding officer makes shipboard operational policy, the first mate sees to it that it is carried out.

Another position held over from the ancient navies, the Command/Master Chief or Chief of the Boat is the highest ranking enlisted member of the crew. Answerable directly to the Captain and First Mate, the C/MC (or COB) carries out the policies with the rank of enlisted men. This non-commissioned officer is usually found as the third part of the ship's command structure. Low-ranking commissioned officers (such as Ensigns) would do right to call the C/MC 'sir', even though technically the COB would not outrank them. This person has served enough years within the service to have earned a tremendous amount of respect from everyone aboard.

Cargo Officer (Loadmaster)

When interacting with a port, another vessel, or whenever there is the offloading or onloading of cargo onto his or her vessel, this officer is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that it is done efficiently and safely. The Cargo Officer reports directly to his department head, which is the First Mate.

Head Cargo Inspector

Reporting to the Cargo Officer, the Head of the Cargo Inspection team must ensure that all cargo meets Alliance regulations. This position has a grand amount of responsibility which can be abused, for no cargo can be moved without the seal of approval as to its contents. Each cargo inspector assigned must be rated to handle each of the five licensed areas of cargo inspection.

This officer is charged with the duties of keeping the three forms of propulsion at peak operating efficiency. The Chief Engineer is tasked with the general well-being of the MSS vessel he is assigned to, including the assigning of damage control parties, preventative maintenance crews, and propulsion teams.

This may not be the most skilled of the helming team, but it's the responsibility of this officer to maintain and ensure the ability and service of those in the piloting team is at its best. The Head Pilot is a manager who can pilot as well. Pilots are charged with the handling of the ship and any auxiliary vessels that may be assigned to it.

The only member on board who is not a member of the Merchant & Supply Service. This non-com or commissioned officer is assigned from Starfleet Medical, and is a staff officer or a corpsman. This person is not in the chain of command.